No Child Left BEHIND

Let’s take a minute to look at the bigger picture implemented with the infamous No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Everyone should be familiar with the term, as it’s loosely paraded around Washington every time a question of educational quality arises. For years it remains the ‘hush’ term of the US’s slowly declining educational infrastructure. Although NCLB began as a noble cause (like most legislation), it has slowly skinned the values of a dynamic education.

The program is based on a series of standardized tests relating to reading and math fundamentals. Once a year, students are quarantined into their seats for an epic series of ability tests. The results are subsequently dished out to the government for an evaluation. The school’s entire financial stability rests in the hands of the results. After taking a peek at these results, the legislators decide if the school has met the standards. If not, government intervention occurs which involves a serious faculty and administrative flop, and a charter initiative, which redefines the schools rights and privileges. Generally, this is the last thing a school district desires.

In the case of most fiscally impaired school districts, all educational power is shifted toward meeting the requirements of NCLB. Although NCLB and other educational legislation acknowledge the necessity of a ‘full spectrum’ education, the budgetary needs are insufficient to teach beyond the math and reading standards. In stable and well-funded schools, a broad education helps students learn the problem solving and thinking strategies that are needed to succeed in the US. ‘Problem schools’ are left teaching students how to punch buttons in a calculator and good page turning edicate. Occasionally, a school has to cut the majority of its ancillary educational systems such as art and music, relying solely on outside community funding to maintain even a semblance of creativity. This must be done to ensure the school passes the cold basics.

I agree ‘No Child Left Behind’ has a nice ring to it… but c’mon.

For direct information on NCLB, please visit http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml.